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Roddick proves king of Queen's

Andy Roddick reacts to an electronic line call decision in favor of Nicolas Mahut during the final of the Stella Artois Championships at Queen's Club in London on Sunday. PHOTO: AP

Andy Roddick saved a match point in the second set before beating Nicolas Mahut 4-6, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (2) on Sunday to win his fourth title at the Queen's Club grass-court championship.

The second-seeded American, who also won the Wimbledon warm-up tournament from 2003-05, is the fourth player to win four titles at Queen's Club.

Lleyton Hewitt, Boris Becker and John McEnroe have also achieved the feat.

"I think it's nice winning at tournaments that you really enjoy playing at," Roddick said. "To have won four is great. I'll have a number of chances to get five. My focus right now is on getting No. 1 at Wimbledon."

Mahut, who is 0-2 against Roddick but beat French Open champion Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals, was not broken once in the match.

Roddick, who served 24 aces, had only one break point. That came at 4-4 in the opening set, but Mahut hit a low forehand volley to force an error. Mahut then earned the only break of the match to claim the set when Roddick's attempt to send a winner down the line fell wide.

Games went with serve in the second set before Roddick faced a match point at 7-6 in the tiebreaker, but Mahut netted a forehand and then made another forehand error to drop the set.

"I was one point away to put my name on the trophy," Mahut said. "It was just an easy passing shot like I hit a thousand passing like that. But it's easier when you practice. When you have to make it to win the tournament, it's another shot."

Both players also held serve easily in the final set.

"I don't know if I was on top up until maybe 3-0 in the breaker," Roddick said.

"I felt like I returned pretty well, but that was just a volleying display I felt like he put on there today. I was lucky to get out of there," he said.
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